FARMINGTON – For the second year in a row, Franklin County commissioners voted to drop the tax rate.

Since 2005, the county’s tax rate has dropped from $1.17 per $1,000 of property valuation to cover a $4.1 million county budget that year to $1.05 this year to cover the $4.67 million budget.

The tax rate commissioners set for 2007 is 5 cents less per $1,000 valuation than 2006, but only Coplin Plantation, Jay, Phillips and Strong will see a decrease in tax assessments due to lower state valuations.

The county’s other 17 towns will see increased tax assessments because of higher state valuations.

The county raised $3.45 million through taxation in 2005, including $172,926 assessed to unorganized townships for their share of the budget that year. In 2006, the county raised $3.6 million through taxation, including $188,430 from unorganized townships, to cover the $4.4 million budget.

This year, the county will raise $3.8 million by taxation, including $195,247 from unorganized townships.

Commissioners also agreed upon a $2,380 in overlay for 2007, compared to $22,977 last year.

County Treasurer Karen Robinson said the county’s undesignated fund is healthy and there was no need to have a higher overlay this year.

Tax bills sent to the towns are due back Sept. 1, Robinson said.